What do you do when your 5 year old tries to run off!!!
By storm96723
@storm96723 (84)
United States
March 30, 2007 11:52am CST
I've been having a problem with my 5 year old son sneaking out of my house to run off to find kids to play with. He won't ask me if he can go play he just takes off on his own, and I'm left trying to figure out where he's at. We live in a small subdivision where there are lots of kids to play with. I want him to play just around our block, and let me know where he's going, but it seems he just wanders off further away than he's supposed to be to play with other kids. We have at least a dozen kids around our block for him to play with, but yet he still tries to go outside that zone. I also have a 7 year old that is more responsible, she stays within the boundaries I have set and she lets me know where she is going. I've tried everything I can think of to get my son to stop running off. I've tried grounding him for a day or two. I've tried the scare tactic telling him that there are people that could hurt him, to which he has no fear of, he thinks the cops will save him. And I've tried the guilt factor telling him that it scares me when he does that and it makes me sad. I don't know what else to do. Has anyone else had this problem and if so what did you do to stop it from happening? Any suggestions would be helpful.
4 people like this
9 responses
@samtaylorskykierajen (7977)
• Canada
30 Mar 07
I would be completely freaking if one of my children did this to me . Even the older children have to let me know if they are leaving the house and where they are going and when they will be back .
I believe I would be finding a really strong lock and would be keeping my doors locked so he would be unable to sneak off unless I gave him permission . I would give him a chance and if I found him somewhere other then he was supposed to be then he would not be allowed to go out the next time and I would hope from this that he would soon realzie that by telling me the truth and doing what he was told that he would end up with more in the end as he wouldn't be allowed to be with his friends otherwise .
I know these measures seem kind of strong but I would not be able to live with myself if anything happened to one of my children because I couldn't find a way to teach them that something bad could happen .
I hope you find a way around this as to any mother this would he totally nerve wrecking all the time and would make you live in constant fear of what your child might be doing or who they might be with as he seems to have no fears whatsoever .
Best of luck !!
2 people like this
@brandybaker (31)
•
30 Mar 07
First off I'm not trying to judge, but no way would I let my 5 year old just go play around the block. You never know what could happen. I don't want my child walking around by herself period.
My daughter is 6 and she's not allowed out side unless my fiance, myself or an adult we know are out there with her. We do arrange for play dates , but with people we know personally. Maybe you can try that.
@storm96723 (84)
• United States
30 Mar 07
I feel safe letting my kids play around my block cause I know all my neighbors that have kids and they know me and we keep in contact with each other as to where our kids are. He used to go with his sister to their friends houses, but I think since he started preschool he thinks he's old enough to take off on his own. I'm trying to get him to understand that he can't do that, but he will literally try to sneak out of my house. We live in a tight knit community of mainly religious Mormon people, which kind of makes me and a few of my neighbors that aren't Mormon feel like outcasts, but the point is that I'm not the only one that lets my 5 year old play around the block, many of my neighbors do too. Thanks for the response.
@Stephanie5 (2946)
• United States
31 Mar 07
I would have a freaking heart attack!!! And he would be grounded for way longer than a day or two after the first time he did it!!
I'm not judging you, but I don't even let my 8 and 9 year old out of the yard by themselves. There's no way that my 5 year old is going anywhere without me!
I would put locks high up on the doors and not let him outside until he realizes that this is SERIOUS!!! You can't have him doing that...anything could happen. You need to really be firm with him and put a stop to it now before he either gets hurt, or kidnapped. Good Luck!
@Gwapako_28 (2140)
• Philippines
31 Mar 07
I have a son turning 4 this coming May.He usually sneak too every now and then to find his playmates in our zone.But he turn home quick because he is afraid to be punished by his grandpa.
Sometimes,we need to punished them,especially we are doing what is best and for their safety.And let them understand why we are doing such thing.
@msbawangada (710)
• India
31 Mar 07
I have a nephew who always tried to go out and tries to run very fast I also tries to go with him and takel
his .
He is so naughty boy he always run here and there.
@michelledarcy (5220)
•
30 Mar 07
If it was me I would keep the door locked and the keys on a high hook so that he cant go out without you knowing about it until you can trust him.
@retardedrugrat (4791)
• Canada
31 Mar 07
I had this problem with my son when he was that age too and it got to the point where I had no choice but to keep the door locked and the key out of his reach.
I don't think it was that he necessarily didn't want to stay in, but more that he was curious about what was out there.
It wasn't so bad once he started school and now he at least lets me know where he's going. Finally, my baby is growing up lol.
You may have to try the same thing to stop him wandering off, or maybe you could set up like a kid watch thing where the parents all keep an eye out for each others kids, and if they see them wandering out of their boundaries, to fetch them back.
@mbizmom (237)
• United States
31 Mar 07
I can't offer any new suggestions, but I can sympathize. My son has been a houdini since he was two. He greatly enjoys trying to escape the house and since he's only three that is not a good thing. I had to put locks at the very top of the doors where he can't reach them and know what window he's trying to climb out of at all times. We don't live in a neighboorhood where it's safe for kids to run loose(not that I'd let a three year old anyway), but many people let their kids run loose anyway and my son wants to go play with them. When we go into the backyard I have to keep a constent eye on him so that he doesn't go out a gate. You should let your son know that enough is enough and if he can't respect your boundaries then he will have to stay inside when everyone else goes out and then I would get those first alert alarms and put them on the doors and windows so you'll know when he opens one. Hope this helps, hang in there.
